Florida Forestry Official Warns Wildfires Likely to Get Worse

With the state battling 106 wildfires covering 124,000 acres as of Wednesday, Florida’s top forestry official warned the fire season has yet to reach its peak.

Jim Karels, director of the Florida Forest Service, said Florida is experiencing an “active early fire season,” with drought conditions throughout the state.

“We tend to peak in the months of April, May and June. And many times, the worst is in May and June. So this is early,” Karels said as he joined Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam at a news conference to ask Floridians to step up efforts to prevent fire outbreaks through vigilance and precautions. read more >>